Once again Instep Research Team is organising a series of workshops, talks and sessions at Sidmouth Folk Week.

PLAYING FOR STEP DANCING Katie Howson covers general principles for musicians wanting to play for step dancing including repertoire, style, etiquette and relationship with dancers, informed by her experiences of playing for step dancers in East Anglia and beyond.

1:00-2:30pm
Blackmore Gardens Marquee

STEPPING IN SOCIAL DANCE Traditional social dances involving stepping, from around the UK taught by Chris Metherell of the Instep Research Team. Dances and steps collected from the oral tradition will be used as a basis for participants to use step material to enhance their social dance experiences. Open to all. Hard shoes (not rubber soles) are best.

3:00-4:30pm
Blackmore Gardens Marquee

SOUTHERN STEPPING WORKSHOP Informal step dancing, based on Southern English styles, led by Jo and Simon Harmer and Janet Keet-Black, with Jigfoot. Stepping to different rhythms, in simple social dances. Open to all. Hard-soled shoes. Linked to Instep workshops and Steppin’ Time sessions.

6:30-7:30pm
Arts Centre

INSTEP RESEARCH TEAM WEBSITE LAUNCH The Instep Research Team has been collecting clog and step dance related material since 1980, and has recently decided to make the entire collection of published and manuscript material, together with photographs and many hours of video available free on the Internet. The demonstration of the resource will be accompanied by a presentation on the work of the team and its plans to make available further collections.

8:00-10:30pm
Rugby Club

THE RUGBY CLUB SESSIONS – “Steppin’ Time” A chance for steppers of any persuasion to get together and dance informally as individuals and in social dances. Musicians interested in playing for stepping welcome. Open to all, especially step dancers and interested musicians. Not regional. Clogs, taps and shoes welcome.

TUESDAY 5th AUGUST

1:00-2:30pm
Blackmore Gardens Marquee

CLOG STEP WORKSHOP “Breaking from routine” Toby Bennett and Simon Harmer of the Instep Research Team will be encouraging dancers to free up their clog step vocabulary to develop skills and confidence in dancing freestyle for example in sessions and in social dances such as reels. Intermediate and above, wear clogs.

PRESENTATION: SOCIAL STEP DANCING “Encouraging and promoting social step dancing in East Anglia and along the South Coast.” An illustrated presentation through which Katie and John Howson of the EATMT and Simon Harmer describe their experiences of supporting, researching and re-invigorating step dancing in their areas.

8:00-10:30pm
Rugby Club

THE RUGBY CLUB SESSIONS – “Steppin’ Time” A second chance for steppers of any persuasion to get together and dance informally as individuals and in social dances. All musicians interested in playing for step dancers welcome. Open to all, especially step dancers and interested musicians. Not regional. Clogs, taps and shoes welcome.

FRIDAY 8th AUGUST

3:00-4:30pm
Sidmouth C of E Primary School Hall

REELING: THE CORNISH PICTURE with Carmen Hunt in association with the Instep Research Team. An exploration into the world of reeling in Cornish step and social dance. From the 3 Hand Reel to Reels in Furry dances.